Gift #171- A Quiet Place

This is my favorite place in the whole house.  It is my quiet place.  It is not usually so very quiet.  But if I get up early enough, I can spend an entire hour here with my dog and my coffee and my Bible.  The screen to the left of the chair is my laundry closet.  The dryer heats up my cozy little space on the cold mornings.  Base housing can be a little drab and dated, but you can make it your own as long as you have a quiet place to sit (and of course a little dog to sit with you).

Gift #170- A Change of Season

We are enjoying an amazing change of season here in Japan.  The leaves are such brilliant shades of red and orange and yellow.  Jack and his dad traveled to Miyajima yesterday to take some photographs of the beautiful scenery.  These were a few of Hank's favorites.  He's pretty good huh?

Gift #169- The 237th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps

The Marine Corps has provided our family with so many unique opportunities and adventures.  We were proud last night as we celebrated its 237th birthday.  We went to the birthday ball at the base gym and had a wonderful time.  My dress fit a little tighter than it did last year, and I took the heels off the second that we were seated.  But it sure is fun to be able to dress up once each year and go to the ball.  I love seeing Hank in his dress blues.  He looked so very handsome and made me very proud to be on his arm.

Gift #168- His Ways are Higher

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher that your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:9.

Even though our hearts are heavy, today, we choose to give thanks.   Knowing that God's ways and plans are far higher than ours could ever be.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  Choose to give thanks.

We are especially thankful for our Aunt Catherine!  Today is her birthday.  She has always held a very special place in Hank's heart and won mine the moment that we met.  She is kind and thoughtful and so very welcoming.  She also bakes a mean butter cookie!  We love you so much Aunt Catherine.  You are truly a gift.

Gift #167- A Voice and a Vote

Sam's Voter Registration Card

Sam and Macy have been on the campaign trail.  Macy promises a classroom pet.  Sam promises no school for the rest of the year!  

No matter the outcome of today's Presidential race, I am proud to be an American today.

Gift #166- Emoticons and iMessage

My Brother Ted, my sister Beth, and I texted for almost 2 hours on Saturday.  Beth has always had such a wonderful sense of humor and Ted was blessed with  quick wit and great comedic timing.  We started texting about some fun memories of mom and it turned into a making fun of Ted session, then we started making fun of each other.  Beth found some hilarious emoticons on her iPad that were so very fitting and well-timed.  I was actually out on a walk and was texting the entire time.  I was walking along literally laughing out loud.  It was such good therapy.  I love remembering mom and laughing about some of her endearing quirks.  I also love remembering the craziness that occurred at 811 Avery Street when we were growing up.  My sister, Kim, was included in the message, but she was at a party with some of our friends from church and couldn't respond.  We didn't know it at the time, but she was reading the texts and sharing them with our friends and they were laughing right along with us.  We decided that we should take our comedy on the road.  Kim suggested that I use the text conversation as my Gift for the day.  I thought that was a good idea.  Sharing happy stories and laughing along with my brothers and sisters is truly a gift.  I miss you all.

Gift # 165- Hot Chocolate With Marshmallows

 Sam Likes a Little Hot Chocolate with His Marshmallows

Mint Flavored Hot Chocolate and Marshmallow Bits.  A match made in heaven!

Gift #164- Home Made Bacon Cheeseburgers

Enough Said!

Gift #163- Base Housing on Halloween Night

Base housing is most definitely the place to be on Halloween night!  The kids totally scored!  They had so much fun going door to door with their friends.  I stayed behind and handed out candy.  Many of the children that came to the door were Japanese.  It was super cute hearing them say "Trick or Treat".  All of the neighbors were out.   The base is so small and everyone knows everyone.  There was such a sense of community.  The kids came home and poured out their loot and counted it and sorted it and traded the things that they didn't like.  I dug into everyones' stashes and stole the Almond Joys and maybe a Snicker Bar or two.  I tried to convince Sam to let me buy his candy for 10 cents a piece.  (Sam on a sugar high is madness.  Come to think of it, Sam not on a sugar high is madness!)  He said "no thanks".  I tried to convince Jack and Josh to pack their candy in our Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes.  I got an even bigger "no thanks" and some serious eye-rolling.   :0)  I knew what the answer would be before I asked, but just had to try.   It was a great night!
Another wonderful memory made in Japan!

On a side note:  The new Caramel Apple Milky Ways are Fantastic! I might have stolen one or two from the kids last night.  They hid their bags from me before they went to school this morning.  :)

                                          Rapunzel and Crash Jr.            Sam and Brandon

 Turbo the Marine Dog all tuckered out on Josh's angry bird costume.

                                      Japanese Kit Kats!                                The Loot!

Look at this sweet little Prince Charming that I found!

Gift #162- Craziness

I am behind once again on my posts.  The days have been completely crazy!   But somehow the Good Lord allows me to thrive in the chaos of the late library book and the mix up at the post office.  He brings laughter through the ketchup packet that sprayed all over Macy's shirt and the spaghetti that came out of the pot in one giant sticky clump.  I am not quite sure what I would do if the bicycles helmets were actually hanging on their hooks outside or if the cereal bowls got rinsed out after breakfast.  I just wouldn't feel needed.  :0)  So today I choose to give thanks for the craziness that is my life.  I thank God for the lost permission slip and the plant cell project that is due tomorrow and the upcoming PTA basket auction and the laundry buzzing in the dryer behind me.  Hopefully tomorrow, I will be giving thanks for the cell project that was turned it on time and for the laundry that is all folded and put away neatly.  But I have a feeling that, instead, I will be giving thanks for the Halloween candy wrappers that are all over the floor and the Scholastic order form that is overdue and the screen door that keeps falling off.  These are all signs of an incredible, crazy, messy, beautiful wonderful life.  I wouldn't change a thing.  Well..  maybe I would change a few things.  Nope-  I wouldn't change a thing!

Gift #161- Popcorn Balls

My Mom made these every year on halloween.  They were one of my favorite treats.  I made them this year for the kids and they were a big hit.   Especially after we watched this Tim Hawkins video.  Please click on this link and watch our favorite comedian share his feelings on popcorn balls!  It will make you smile.

Tim Hawkins on Bad Candy